So I made a post about a year ago looking for employment? This owner operator thing has been a roller coaster. You make enough to live a decent lifestyle. Breakdowns can cost a lot of money and be in a headache. It’s all part of doing business.
I’ve been a leased on driver for over five years. Initially, I started my own authority. I went through a divorce so I didn’t pursue my authority and I leased on. not knowing what I don’t know I did containers. I was happy making more money than I ever made which was 3K after expenses. My contract ended because I got a couple of dirty DOT inspections. Hauling rail container seems simple. However, it was a headache. They are so raggedy with all the abuse they take. After that contract ended I tried to haul containers for another company. As an owner operator after expenses, I brought home $900 for one week. I ran so fast out that door from that company. I could tell it wasn’t going to be a good fit.
Next I decided to dipped my toes in hazmat hauling tankers. I was told that the money can be very good and you’re home every day. Being that I have a tandem axle cab I am limited what I can do. I worked for one of the largest fuel haulers in the United States. This is going to make me sound bad, but my contract ended there. My experience at this company was so bad. My trainer told me that maybe I should start looking for another job. To go from feeling very good hauling containers to doing a completely different job and I’m feeling lost wasn’t a good feeling. Long story they terminated my contract and the driver trainer was let go shorty after.
For the past three years, I’ve been working for another company pulling a hazmat tanker. Overall, it’s been decent. After expenses, I make around 3.5 to 4K a week consistently. but with truck driving, there’s been ups there been downs. The downs sometimes are self-inflicted. I lost my job around a year ago for six months because I was fighting a speeding ticket that got thrown out. A couple of other times I messed up loading/unloading. When things like this happen, you have to pay for your mistakes as a 1099 driver. I understand this. However, this last time I messed up, I just don’t feel great about the entire process. I was already feeling uneasy about the amount of time I spend at work and what I make. On a 70 hour clock I work a total of maybe 68 hours to make 4 to 4.3k after expenses. I be freaking exhausted. I have no truck note and no real debt outside of a mortgage. I don’t know why, but I can’t put my finger on why I feel so uneasy about work. I don’t know if it’s because I feel I maybe selling myself short with the amount of time vs money I make or maybe i should I just shut up and dribble?
Well, like I said before something happened at my current job to where I loaded the wrong product. With me being a 1099 driver it’s a possibility that my contract can be terminated. My MVR is squeaky clean no tickets or accidents. I may need to find additional employment. I remember when looking for jobs it was very hard for me to place a tandem axle daycare outside of working for railroads. Without putting names out there I worked for one of the largest fuel haulers in the United States. So the company isn’t an option. I’m leaving this post to ask if I am doing OK as a 1099 driver? On average working 65 hours I make 3.8 after expenses. Also, I may need to find another company to work for. If anyone knows where I can go, please share it with me. I’m one of those people that always thinks the worst. Unfortunately, I’m usually right. So I’m trying to get ahead of things with finding additional employment. If everything is OK tomorrow, I can remain at my present company. But something just doesn’t feel right so I’m here talking to the Reddit community.